How to Find a Car Accident Witness in California: Tips and Strategies
April 22, 2025- Categories: Car Accidents
If you are involved in a car accident, one of your many concerns in the aftermath may be how you will pay for any medical bills, repairs, and lost work time. The insurance company of the driver responsible for the accident often covers those costs. But while this coverage may take care of medical costs, it could also come with a spike in insurance rates if you are determined to share some responsibility. Essentially, taking the right initial steps at the accident scene can mean the difference between shouldering mounting bills for years and receiving fair compensation.
When there is a dispute regarding responsibility, it helps to have a witness who supports your claim. But how do you find a witness? Consider these key tips and strategies for finding a reliable car crash witness in California.
Initial Steps at the Accident Scene
The best time to find a witness after a car accident is while you are still at the accident scene. Any witnesses who have information that will be useful to your case are likely present at the scene. They may have pulled over to call 911 or may even be offering medical assistance. Regardless, this is the easiest time to get the contact information of a witness.
If you can safely do so, you should record the license plate of everyone parked nearby and ask all potential witnesses for their contact information. Another person may be willing to do this for you if your injuries prevent you from moving around.
The best time to gather information about potential witnesses is immediately after a car accident.
Utilizing Technology to Locate Witnesses
But what can you do if you don’t get the contact information for a witness at the scene of the accident? Unfortunately, while drivers are required to report an accident to police and the DMV in California, witnesses are not. The DMV encourages witnesses to call 911 and provide assistance, but no law requires that. When you don’t know how to find a witness, though, technology may provide a solution.
Your best option may be to investigate the footage of a traffic camera. California has hundreds of traffic cameras, and the footage is available online. If your accident happened near one of those cameras, the camera may have recorded the license plates of witnesses, even if it didn’t record the accident. Similarly, see if there are any ATMs in the area. ATMs typically have cameras that may have caught footage that could help you locate a witness.
Were you or someone you love seriously injured in a car accident in California? The car accident attorneys at Neale & Fhima APC may be able to help you get compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered. Contact us today at 888-407-2955 to find out how we can help.
Traditional Methods of Finding Vehicle Accident Witnesses
Sometimes, the traditional methods are all you need. If you suspect there are witnesses but don’t know where to look, you might consider placing a personal ad in local newspapers. Just because the driver of a vehicle couldn’t remain to provide contact information after an accident doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t willing to provide eyewitness testimony. They could have simply been in a hurry on that day, and there is little cost or harm in trying.
Working With Authorities and Professionals
California authorities may also be able to help you find a witness. The police, for example, will generally take witness statements and gather the contact information for anyone who provides information. This means that you can potentially get contact information for witnesses by getting a copy of the police report. Alternatively, if someone called 911 but didn’t remain at the scene, emergency services should have a log of that call. That log often includes contact information for the person who called, such as a phone number, which can be all the information you need to find a witness.
Alternatively, you could try to rely on professionals like private detectives. A detective can come with a higher cost, but if you’re facing the aftermath of a major accident that results in hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, this cost may be worth it.
Tips for Interviewing Vehicle Accident Witnesses
Generally, the best way to interview a witness is to let your legal team interview them for you. Talking directly to a witness could create problems if your case goes to trial. However, this may not always be an option.
If you have no choice but to interview a witness personally, try to ask only factual questions, and avoid asking any type of question that would lead them to a specific conclusion. This could lead to conflicting accounts later, as their answer may not reflect their objective recollection. Preferably, at the end of an interview, you know factually what they saw and how to contact them again if necessary.
How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
A car accident lawyer can handle all of these steps on your behalf, including tracking down any potential witnesses. During interviews, they understand what they can and can’t say to a witness and what type of witness information is critical to your case. While a witness may seem to be helpful and support your claim, the information they have may not necessarily be useful to your claim.
A lawyer can quickly determine what value every witness brings and how to best use their testimony. In some cases, simply having a witness who supports your side of the claim is enough for your lawyer to negotiate a fair settlement. In other cases, you will need that witness to testify in court.
Contact a Seasoned Car Accident Lawyer in California Today
Gathering witness contact information after getting seriously injured in a car accident can be a difficult endeavor. Fortunately, an experienced lawyer from Neale & Fhima APC can simplify this process while you focus on recovering.
Want to learn more about how a California car accident lawyer can help you with your case? Contact Neale & Fhima APC at 888-407-2955 to schedule a consultation today.
Attorney Aaron Fhima
Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]
